'00 SS Tire Sizing
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Houston
'00 SS Tire Sizing '00 Camaro with 17" wheels (stock SS) needing tires. I want to keep it squared but would really like a wider size than whats on it (stock).
I've been doing some searching and really cant find anything that says "295/xx" or "this tire rubs" or anything very helpful.
All help is appreciated and thanks!
I've been doing some searching and really cant find anything that says "295/xx" or "this tire rubs" or anything very helpful.
All help is appreciated and thanks!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,605
Likes: 2,508
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
If you plan to stick with the stock SS wheels (17x9", +50mm offset) you really can't go much wider than the stock 275/40/17 size. It is entirely possible to put a 285/40/17 tire on these wheels, and it will fit in the rear, but up front you run the risk of rubbing on the bumper cover lip (where it wraps around to meet the wheel well liner) during even the most shallow of turns. Some folks have done this without an issue, other than some slight rub on the inner portion of the wheel well liner itself, but this will depend on overall suspension condition, ride height, etc. It's a gamble. So if you want to keep the setup square, and use the stock wheels without any issues, you're pretty much limited to the 275/40 size.
By playing with offset, some folks have gotten wider tires up front - but that would require a change of wheels and very careful measurement regarding height and clearance. As you increase width, you'd need to go with a smaller aspect ratio to keep overall height in check (to prevent rubbing), but you'd really need a wheel that's wider than 9" to get anything bigger than a 285mm to fit properly at this wheel diameter and general range of tire height.
Again, you could always fit a 285/40/17 in the rear and just leave the 275/40/17 up front; I know that wouldn't be square, but it's about all you can do with the stock wheel width and offset while still fitting properly on the car. Just an FYI though, there is not much selection in the 285/40/17 tire size, so options will be limited. The next size up in width is a 295mm, but then you'd certainly have to lower the aspect ratio to prevent rubbing up front however I don't think anybody makes a 295/35/17 tire (nor would I want to attempt to fit a 295/35 tire on a 17x9" wheel).
By playing with offset, some folks have gotten wider tires up front - but that would require a change of wheels and very careful measurement regarding height and clearance. As you increase width, you'd need to go with a smaller aspect ratio to keep overall height in check (to prevent rubbing), but you'd really need a wheel that's wider than 9" to get anything bigger than a 285mm to fit properly at this wheel diameter and general range of tire height.
Again, you could always fit a 285/40/17 in the rear and just leave the 275/40/17 up front; I know that wouldn't be square, but it's about all you can do with the stock wheel width and offset while still fitting properly on the car. Just an FYI though, there is not much selection in the 285/40/17 tire size, so options will be limited. The next size up in width is a 295mm, but then you'd certainly have to lower the aspect ratio to prevent rubbing up front however I don't think anybody makes a 295/35/17 tire (nor would I want to attempt to fit a 295/35 tire on a 17x9" wheel).
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Houston
If you plan to stick with the stock SS wheels (17x9", +50mm offset) you really can't go much wider than the stock 275/40/17 size. It is entirely possible to put a 285/40/17 tire on these wheels, and it will fit in the rear, but up front you run the risk of rubbing on the bumper cover lip (where it wraps around to meet the wheel well liner) during even the most shallow of turns. Some folks have done this without an issue, other than some slight rub on the inner portion of the wheel well liner itself, but this will depend on overall suspension condition, ride height, etc. It's a gamble. So if you want to keep the setup square, and use the stock wheels without any issues, you're pretty much limited to the 275/40 size.
By playing with offset, some folks have gotten wider tires up front - but that would require a change of wheels and very careful measurement regarding height and clearance. As you increase width, you'd need to go with a smaller aspect ratio to keep overall height in check (to prevent rubbing), but you'd really need a wheel that's wider than 9" to get anything bigger than a 285mm to fit properly at this wheel diameter and general range of tire height.
Again, you could always fit a 285/40/17 in the rear and just leave the 275/40/17 up front; I know that wouldn't be square, but it's about all you can do with the stock wheel width and offset while still fitting properly on the car. Just an FYI though, there is not much selection in the 285/40/17 tire size, so options will be limited. The next size up in width is a 295mm, but then you'd certainly have to lower the aspect ratio to prevent rubbing up front however I don't think anybody makes a 295/35/17 tire (nor would I want to attempt to fit a 295/35 tire on a 17x9" wheel).
By playing with offset, some folks have gotten wider tires up front - but that would require a change of wheels and very careful measurement regarding height and clearance. As you increase width, you'd need to go with a smaller aspect ratio to keep overall height in check (to prevent rubbing), but you'd really need a wheel that's wider than 9" to get anything bigger than a 285mm to fit properly at this wheel diameter and general range of tire height.
Again, you could always fit a 285/40/17 in the rear and just leave the 275/40/17 up front; I know that wouldn't be square, but it's about all you can do with the stock wheel width and offset while still fitting properly on the car. Just an FYI though, there is not much selection in the 285/40/17 tire size, so options will be limited. The next size up in width is a 295mm, but then you'd certainly have to lower the aspect ratio to prevent rubbing up front however I don't think anybody makes a 295/35/17 tire (nor would I want to attempt to fit a 295/35 tire on a 17x9" wheel).
I'm really not a huge fan of the OEM SS wheels but last week I drove my truck a few days and noticed one of my tires was flat, aired it up and didn't last a day so now I'm in the market.
I'm not afraid of buying wheels and tires but I really don't know of any brands besides (Fikse, ccw, bogart) and that's not a price I'm willing to pay for a daily.
Anyways thanks again RPM I'll just find a good set up for my stock size.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,605
Likes: 2,508
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Lots of things to consider for tire selection. If I had to buy new tires for my '98 car today (which has SS wheels and would take the same 275/40/17 size as yours), I'd most likely go with the BFG Sport Comp 2s. But this is not a daily driver for me; I don't ever drive the car in rain or snow, or even much below 50°. There are other good choices, but that would be my personal preference for my purpose.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Houston
What are the full details of your application (straight daily driver, some track use, performance handling a priority, etc.)? What's the budget? Do you have a preference in brand? I do realize that TX has a lot better weather than IL, but you did mention that the car is a daily driver and I do believe that it sometimes gets below freezing in some areas of TX, so is cold weather a concern? Or do you just park the car if things get unusually bad?
Lots of things to consider for tire selection. If I had to buy new tires for my '98 car today (which has SS wheels and would take the same 275/40/17 size as yours), I'd most likely go with the BFG Sport Comp 2s. But this is not a daily driver for me; I don't ever drive the car in rain or snow, or even much below 50°. There are other good choices, but that would be my personal preference for my purpose.
Lots of things to consider for tire selection. If I had to buy new tires for my '98 car today (which has SS wheels and would take the same 275/40/17 size as yours), I'd most likely go with the BFG Sport Comp 2s. But this is not a daily driver for me; I don't ever drive the car in rain or snow, or even much below 50°. There are other good choices, but that would be my personal preference for my purpose.
I recently bought some tires for my stock wheels which I plan to throw back on for a while and I went with the firestone firehawk indy 500's. I haven't actually put them on yet but apparently the vette and hell cat guys like them a lot and they aren't too expensive, Only drawback is they are a summer tire but since you are in Houston anyway you probably don't need all season tires that badly.
